New Ballard park selected for sustainable initiative

The new 9th Ave NW Park is one of two Seattle parks selected to participate in a nationwide sustainable landscape pilot project.A drawing of the park design unveiled at the final community meeting courtesy Site Workshop. There is a p-patch to the left, green space in the middle and a play area to the right. While the features are the same, some of the shapes and sizes of each area have changed as the design process continues.

The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) is a voluntary program that uses a 250-point rating system to determine how green a park is. The rating system includes landscape design, construction and maintenance. The 9th Ave NW Park, which sits between NW 70th and NW 73rd St, is currently in the design phase. According to the Parks Department,

“This new park has been developed to reflect the site’s past and the environmentally conscious neighborhood’s future. A community garden will continue the site’s history of food production, while many site relics will be reused within the park design. At the street edge, unnecessary paving is reclaimed for use as rain gardens. These gardens will buffer the park from the road and clean and store stormwater taken directly from the street. This will benefit King County’s combined sewer system, which will improve Puget Sound water quality.”

SITES will use feedback from the 9th Ave NW Park, and 150 other pilot sites nationwide for their final rating system and reference guide. “The U.S. Green Building Council, a stakeholder in the Sustainable Sites Initiative, anticipates incorporating the guidelines and performance benchmarks into future iterations of its LEED® Green Building Rating System™,” a release from the Parks Department states.

Bradner Gardens Park is in southeast Seattle is the second park selected. KCTS 9 in Seattle and the Theater Commons and Donnelly Gardens at the Seattle Center are also on the list of pilot projects.

I think this is a great idea and a way to honor the people who used to have a religious community on the site. The property had fruit trees, gardens and it was clear that these folk took their stewardship of the earth very seriously.
Like it or not, there are more ways to have fun than to play on a play structure. Some kids can have fun and learn at the same time.

This city (and this neighborhood especially) has essentially abandoned its public spaces, and handed them over to the bums. That’s who will be the primary beneficiaries of this “new park.”

Until the city decided to take back its public spaces from the vagrants and drunks who now occupy them, we should not invest another dime in projects like this.

I’m glad this is not near my house – we already have too many sketchy characters wandering down the street apparently looking for trouble. This “park” will only attract more bums, and I’m sure they’ll all appreciate this nice new “green” space we’ve provided for them.

I’ve updated the post with a drawing of the park design. There will be a p-patch on the left hand side of the park, green space in the middle and a play area including a play structure on the right hand side. ~Kate

DRB – the voters approved a levy measure on the ballot last fall to provide money for the creation of new parks. This money cannot be used to maintain existing parks unless another ballot measure is passed saying so. The General Fund budget shortage would have been nice for the voters to know more about last year while making that decision, but alas. Also, as McGinn was voted into office at the same time this is not really any of his doing.

It is important to note that Whittier is bounded by arterials 65th, 85th, 15th and 8th on all four sides. Within this neighborhood there is no playground suitable for young kids (under 5). Also there are no swings in this neighborhood as well. Swings have been linked positively to cognitive and motor development in kids. Also worth noting is the many families with young kids in the Whittier neighborhood who are trying to get by with one or no cars. It is those families that need a walk-able playground that is suited to meet the development needs of young children.
Any sustainable park would FIRST keep families in their neighborhood by providing plentiful, engaging, and developmentally appropriate playground equipment.

Within this neighborhood there is no dog park suitable for pooches. Also there are dog beaches in this neighborhood as well. Dog beaches have been linked positively to cognitive and motor development in dogs. Also worth noting is the many families with young dogs in the Whittier neighborhood who are trying to get by with one or no cars. It is those families that need a walk-able playground that is suited to meet the development needs of dogs.

bark more, I suppose it would feel as if someone is jamming an agenda down your throat if you refuse to participate in the community planning process.
Cynthia, If you look at the Ballard News Tribune you will see artist renderings of the planned park with an item that looks suspiciously like a swing. I know it is just an artist rendering.
Planning for this park has been in the works for a couple of years now. It is too bad if anyone feels left out – but you gotta get out and take part.